My Personal Path to Publication - Crystal Cattabriga

Happy Labor Day everyone!  Thanks for joining us on the blog today.  We have a great author for you today, self-published writer/memoirist, Crystal Cattabriga.  The author of Shattered to Pieces, has shared a true story of her personal experience.  Please welcome her and enjoy her recounting of her own Path to Publication.


1. Welcome Crystal.  How long have you been writing?

I started writing this year in May after leaving my full time job that I worked at for 12 years.

2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author?  If not, what’s your plan?

Yes I am, I have been published since July.

3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the “indie” route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?

I decided to self publish

4. Why did you choose that particular route?

My choice in self publishing was so I could own the rights of my novels freely

5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?

It took me seven weeks to write my first novel

6. How long did it take you to publish it?

The process time in which it took my book to be published was two weeks

7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?

There was no rejection seeing I self-published my own book

8. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it make you feel?

I think the best news I received on my book has been the reviews and the constant support from fans and family

9. What’s the worst piece of advice you ever got?

That I shouldn't leave my job in this economy in case my writing novels don't work out

10. Now, tell us the best!

The best advice that I have received would have to be, that I am determined in everything I do so there wouldn't be failure

11. What’s the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication?

My advice would be to keep writing if it is your passion

12. Where can we read your blog?  Buy your books?  Connect with you on facebook?  On Twitter?  Your website?

My books can be bought through Barnes & Nobles, Amazon.

You can find information on myself and of my books on http://facebook.com/ccattabriga

Book Blurb:  Shattered Into Pieces is a true story based on events that took place in my life. A man I once call dad and trusted was now the man I was trying to escape from. Would I ever be able to deal with what was coming next? The shocking truth of who he really was and what he really did will leave you stunned. Find out how I survived and found closure to the life I knew and now left behind once and for all.

Crystal is also working on two new novels, Loving Ema, and Saving Bobby, BOTH due out in November of this year and excitingly, she will be doing a 9-day book signing in her home state of Georgia, in Clarkesville, from Sept 9-17th.  Come on out...she would love to meet you!  Details can be found here:  http://crystalcattabrigabooks.blogspot.com/

The Guest Blog Post Schedule So Far

I have been thrilled with the response I've received from my friends/authors/writers regarding this guest post series I've started.  The first three posts, even including mine, have been very well-received, and the ones I have in my possession that you haven't seen yet are nothing short of heartbreaking and inspirational.  I have been bowled over by the personal journeys of these wonderful people and so touched that they are willing to share them with me and with you, here, on my blog.  I wanted to give you an idea of the major talent you can expect in the coming days.  Check out this lineup:

Mon, Sept 5     Crystal Cattabriga, author of Shattered Into Pieces
Tues, Sept 6     Rhiannon Paille, author of Flame and Surrender
Weds, Sept 7   Scott Prussing, author of Breathless and the soon-to-be-released, Deathless
Thurs, Sept 8   Gracen Miller, author of Pandora's Box in the Road to Hell series
Fri, Sept 9,      Kay Springsteen, author of Heartsight, and the upcoming, Heartsent

Then the week after that, we have

Mon, Sept 12    Lindsay Downs, author of Emily Dahill, CID
Tues, Sept 13    Dominique Eastwick, author of Strawberry Kisses, among others
Weds, Sept 14  Joselyn Vaughn, author of Sucker for a Hot Rod
Thurs, Sept 15   Rue Volley, author of the Blood and Light series (6 books in all!)
Fri, Sept 16th    Jason McIntyre, author of Road Markers and a brand new title he'll be unveiling to us!

I am so beyond excited for you to read these guest posts, I have to check every day to see whose turn it is!  And I am receiving new responses every day.  I have another week's worth of posts to receive and schedule yet and new authors approach me all the time.  This experiment has turned into such a success and I, personally, am receiving such encouragement from authors whose opinion I practically REVERE.  I hope you are too.  So, seriously, stay tuned.  Where else am I ever going to rub elbows with this much potential star power????